A Kind of Providence

I am halfway through my first semester in the Brown/Trinity MFA program in Acting. (Yeah….. I started in Late August and now officially live in Providence, RI) The program is a joint venture through Brown University and the Trinity repertory Theatre headed by Stephen Berenson and Brian brian McEleney. It is a three-year conservatory program that comes with all the challenges a conservatory program brings. With a heavy course load and rehearsal times, graduate school has become a full time gig. Our first year is devoted largely to American Naturalism and learning more in depth about what our instruments naturally do; our habits, tendencies and strengths. Everything is coming to surface and there is nowhere to hide. It is an incredible process of change.

My class is composed of 14 actors and two directors, and we could all not be more different from each other. With class six days a week we have become an odd little family of sorts. Imagine the Real World on Artsy-Fart fairy dust.

For my first scene showing, I have been assigned the Tony Award winning play “Dinner With Friends” by Donald Margulies. The play follows a divorced couple exploring the effect a destroyed relationship has on those closest to them. Beth is definitely a new character for me, very fiery, mature and grounded. My big task for this scene has been to rediscover listening and grounding my breath, two things which I will be chasing after the next three years to be sure.

More on the work of graduate school coming soon… so lets just cut tot he good part. I am starting to feel more and more like an East Coaster. Providence obviously does not have the crazy night scene that New York does, but thanks to Brown, RISD and the countless local artists and musicians there is a plenty to get into. I have to give a shout out to my favorite spot in town, Flan Y Ajo Located on 225a Westminster. Flan y Ajo Tapas project is a fab little spanish inspired BYOB restaurant owned by Siobhan María Etxeberría and Diego Luís Pérezand. The menu is incredibly imaginative and features fresh plates for lunch and dinner.

One of my fave posters…

The tapas bar…. you MUST try the tuna sandwich. Incredible.

Very fun and romantic little spot indeed.

More to come as I continue to settle in. Special thanks to everyone in New York and Chicago who helped me with this transition and my application.